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"Fozzie, look at me."
Fozzie peered up at Kermit.
"Do you need a minute outside?"
Fozzie could hardly think straight with the silent tears streaming down his face. He eventually managed a small nod.
The chaos and havoc that was typical for the theatre did no help calming Fozzie in the slightest. He was used to all the usual loud noises and spontaneous bangs that could be heard around the hallways behind the stage, but they always felt as if they were amplified by a million every time he was anxious.
"Come on, we'll go take a breather," Kermit comforted, helping the bear up onto his feet. He shouted for Scooter to take over the show while he was busy and to get someone else to replace Fozzie’s upcoming comedy act (to which he was not happy, but obliged when he saw the state Fozzie was in), and gently guided Fozzie to the backstage door and out into the fresh air of the evening.
As they stepped outside, Kermit spoke again. "You want me to stay out here with you?"
Fozzie nodded again.
"You wanna talk about it?" Kermit asked, placing a hand on Fozzie's arm reassuringly. The pair sat down on the cold, hard ground; it wasn’t comfortable, but Kermit found it much easier to calm people down while they were sitting.
Fozzie could barely squeak out a reply between sniffles. He stuttered and stumbled over every word he tried to let out, growing increasingly frustrated at the fact that he couldn’t voice his feelings.
Kermit noticed this and quickly thought to reply. “It’s okay, take your time.”
Fozzie suddenly broke down into a puddle of tears. Kermit had dealt with his friends crying before, sure, and even more so when he was working on Sesame Street, but he’d never seen Fozzie, one of his closest friends, so distraught. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. The frog opened his arms, inviting Fozzie for a hug, which he immediately accepted.
“There, there…” Kermit wrapped his arms around the bear and rubbed his back in small, soothing circles. “Take all the time you need to talk to me, okay? I’ll stay with you out here as long as you need me to. Scooter’s got us both covered.” Kermit honestly didn’t trust Scooter to run the show, but he figured any outcome it may have was better than leaving Fozzie all alone with his emotions.
“I just,” Fozzie stammered, “I’ve always looked forward to performing, I’ve always looked forward to telling my jokes, I’ve always looked forward to entertaining people, but I just feel like,” he paused for a moment. “Like nobody really listens or cares or wants to hear my jokes at all. Nobody looks forward to seeing me. At least other muppets have interesting acts. Gonzo has all of his crazy stunts, the band has their cool music, and what do I have? A couple of lousy jokes that no one finds funny anyway.” Fozzie found himself in a fit of sobs once again as he clung harder onto the smaller muppet.
Kermit looked for the words he could use to console his friend. “Fozzie, Fozzie, don’t you dare say that no one finds you funny. What, you think Statler and Waldorf determine the whole audience’s thoughts of you? They’re just a bunch of hecklers who have nothing better to do, don’t take any notice of them.” Kermit broke off the hug to look directly into Fozzie’s eyes. “I find you funny, okay? You’re the funniest person I know. Sure, maybe not always intentionally, but that just adds to your… well, your charm.”
The frog placed his hand gently around Fozzie’s hand and used his other hand to tilt the bear’s head towards his gaze. “Some people may not find you as funny as I do, but you can’t impress everyone. Not everyone likes me either, but I don’t dwell on it. If I tried to make myself likeable for everyone, I’d just be a nobody. I wouldn’t be myself.” Kermit paused for a moment to think of what to say next. “You are funny, Fozzie, even if you don’t think so yourself.”
Fozzie knew Kermit to be good at comforting people (in fact, the entire studio thought of him that way), but every time he gave him any advice, that image he had of him was only proven further. Fozzie brought his hand up to his face and wiped away his tears. “Thank you, Kermit.”
Without thinking, Fozzie quickly leaned in and kissed Kermit on the cheek. After he’d realised what he’d done, he pulled himself back and stared slightly slack-jawed at the frog. There was silence between the two for a moment.
Neither of them knew how to react. Fozzie was shocked at his own confidence, and maybe at the repressed feelings he found he had for Kermit, and Kermit was equally surprised that Fozzie would even attempt to kiss him.
“You’re welcome,” Kermit eventually uttered out, leaning up to the bear and kissing his cheek in return. At that moment, Fozzie was glad he had thick fur, otherwise anyone would be able to see the bright red blush he could feel forming on his face. “Are you ready to go back inside now or do you want a few more minutes out here?”
Fozzie slowed down his breathing for a moment and wiped away the last of his tears. “Yeah, I’m okay to go back.”
Fozzie didn’t end up performing his comedy act that night, and maybe it was for the best. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to think straight for a while after his kiss.